Indicators are often mounted to contact a bracket, similar to the illustration below.įixture mounting procedures are obviously dependent on the specific type of hardware being used. In these cases, rim-face alignment can be performed with the shafts coupled. When machines are close-coupled, there is generally NOT sufficient room to mount indicators to contact the coupling hub.

In this case, the alignment can be performed with the shafts un-coupled. Also, sag values can be pre-determined for the standard rod assortment.įor machines with sufficient space between coupling halves, fixtures can be mounted such that the dial indicators are in direct contact with the coupling or the shaft. These packages expedite the precision alignment process. The fixtures should include an assortment of rods to span various coupling lengths.

Selection and use of a commercial package designed to accommodate a variety of shaft diameters is recommended. Using the offset and angularity measurements along with fixture setup and machine dimensions, the relative position of the movable shaft is determined by performing calculations or by graphing/plotting.Ī variety of shaft alignment fixtures are available for performing Rim-Face alignment. In this training, we will focus on two dial rim-face alignment and how to accurately determine shaft positions using calculation and graphing procedures.įigure 3.12 Two dial indicators are used to determine the relative position of the movable shaft with respect to the stationary shaft.įigure 3.13 The rim dial is used to measure offset in one plane along the shaft lengths.įigure 3.14 The face dial measures angularity or slope between the shafts. Many different variations of the rim-face method are used, including straight edge and feeler gauge methods, single dial rim-face, two dial rim-face, trial and error rim-face, etc. The Rim-Face method is recognized as the oldest method of shaft alignment.

Motor coupling alignment procedure